Freshman tight end Josh Kattus is part of a bright future that offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello sees at UK. (Vicky Graff Photo)
“Our best days are ahead of us.”
That certainly did not sound like a coach who thought he might soon be losing his job.
Kentucky offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello made that statement after Kentucky’s win over Louisville Saturday that ended a 7-5 regular season. Consistent offensive woes were one reason the Cats did not meet their own preseason expectations and one reason fans/media have been speculating for several weeks about Scangarello’s future.
He came to UK from the San Francisco 49ers this season after then offensive coordinator Liam Coen left to return to the Los Angeles Rams. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has not given any indication that he will or will not make coaching changes.
Scangarello admitted “we were managing the game” in the second half of Saturday’s 26-13 win over the Cardinals.
“I liked the crew we had rolling. They were tuned in and our young guys are growing up,” Scangarello said.
He revealed how he was standing behind the offensive huddle at practice last Wednesday and counted that nine of the players in the huddle would be back for the 2023 season.
“They are really pretty good. They are puppies and young guys but they are growing up and learning,” Scangarello said. “The line played better the last few weeks. We made mistakes early on in the year. No excuses but I think the young guys are growing up.”
He went on to praise the potential he feels running back JuTahn McClain has. Same for true freshman tight end Josh Kattus, redshirt freshman tight end Jordan Dingle, and freshmen receivers Barion Brown and Dane Key.
And he didn’t mince words about redshirt freshman lineman Jager Burton.
“Georgia was a very big moment for him. He realized then he could play with the nation’s best players,” Scangarello said.
But he really sounded like a coach expecting to be back when he was asked about UK’s trouble scoring in the red zone this season.
“When you go fast, you can negate some stuff (the defense does). That’s something we got to look at in the future,” the offensive coordinator said. “Those are little things that in midseason you can’t throw at guys but that’s part of the future that can help us be more efficient.”
Look at in the future? That’s part of the future that can help us?
Certainly doesn’t sound like a coach expecting not to be back guiding the UK offense in 2023.
3 Responses
For years, UK’s offense has not performed at true SEC championship levels. Look at the data, and you will see that SEC championship football is played by teams that average 40 points per game or more and UK has never had that type of offensive season. Here is UK’s data, sorted by fewest to most ppg by season.
15.7 2004
15.8 2011
17.9 2012
20.5 2013
21.7 2005
21.8 2020@
22.1 2022
22.6 2008+
24.7 2015
25.5 2017+
26.1 2009+
26.6 2018+
26.7 2006+
27.2 2019+
27.3 2003
29.2 2014
30 2016+
31.2 2010+
32.3 2021
36.5 2007+
In the last 20 seasons, UK’s offense has produced 30 ppg or more 4 times with the high water mark occurring in 2007 at 36.5 ppg. The last team to exceed 30 ppg was last year at 32.3.
This year’s team is not the lowest producer, but is 7th lowest.
The offensive woes have not been limited to Coach Stoops, but have been an issue with every coach over the last 20 seasons.
The issue is not defined by the current OC either, in my opinion.
Coach Stoops knows this man better than I do, and I defer to Coach Stoops’ judgment with regard to the OC position for next season.
I remain much more concerned about a decision regarding the O line coach.
And of course, get us a Special Teams Coach
I think Sangarello needs to go. He had a lot of weapons this year that UK won’t have in 2023. Like a great QB, a great TB in C-Rod, and a room full of TE’s, and WR’s. UK needs a simpler offense than what he is running IMO. The offensive line needs new coaching help as well.
The offense was good enough Saturday to beat Louisville, but still couldn’t do anything much in the red zone but kick FG’s. When your place kicker is the MVP in a game with a NFL first round draft choice at QB under center, a room full of receiver talent, and an all world RB that can run over, around, and through defenders something ain’t right with the offense.
UK’s defense won that Louisville game IMO. I also think Brad White’s days are numbered at UK. Somebody is going to hire him away as a head coach, or DC with a lot of dollars on the line. Stoops got the lion’s share of money in his new contract. Don’t know if UK will match offers potentially made to White, maybe. If coach Sangarello stays I look for UK to struggle worse in 2023 than they have in 2022. A very nice man, and probably a great football mind, but not a good fit for UK football IMO. I don’t think Stoops fires him though; I think he will be the play caller in 2023.